BBB warns Winter Olympic fans to beware of scams

Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises consumers to keep their eyes peeled for fraudulent tickets and merchandise during this year’s Winter Olympics.
 
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – All around the world, millions are gearing up for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, kicking off this weekend. Kids will watch and dream of being Olympians when they’re older. The majority of us will watch, amazed by the athleticism displayed as we root for our home teams.
But, beware of scams! Official Olympic merchandise is available through a number of sources, but counterfeit goods and outright scams are everywhere. A recent search on eBay showed 5,693 items for “Sochi 2014.” Many were authentic re-sales, but some were fraudulent. The most impressive item was the “Olympic Torch Sochi 2014. Yours for just $7,000!”
Looking for Olympic merchandise?
Consumers should familiarize themselves with Olympic logos, graphics and branding and consider shopping directly with the official website of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. To be certain you are getting official Olympic merchandise, follow these easy steps:
· Go to the official Olympic website (sochi2014.com). If it opens in French or Russian, click on the small “EN” on the left side to switch to English.
· Click on the word “Shop” on the top left side of the home page.
If you want to buy U.S. team merchandise, go to this official site: Teamusa.org.
BBB reminds shoppers that most “collectible” merchandise is manufactured in large quantities and rarely rises in value. If you want to purchase a “limited edition” memento, check to see how limited it is before making a decision.
Final Notes
Make purchases with a credit card. Consumers should always purchase items with a credit card if they are shopping online. If the seller turns out to be fraudulent, the consumer can dispute the charge with the credit card company and may be eligible for reimbursement.
Be cautious of phishing email scams. If you receive any unfamiliar or unsolicited email claiming to pertain to the Winter Olympics, don’t open any attachments or click on any links. Doing so could put malware on your computer and compromise your personal and financial information.
Make and stick to a budget. Going to the Olympics may be a once in a lifetime event, but don’t go overboard. Plan ahead and stay tight to your budget. If you need help with debt, check out bbb.org/debt. You’ll find great information on budgeting and debt reduction.
 
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ABOUT BBB:
For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2012, consumers turned to BBB 124 million times for Business Reviews on more than 4.5 million companies and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin serves 79 counties in Texas, is supported by more than 11,000 Accredited Businesses, and in 2012 handled nearly 23,000 complaints for consumers doing business with Texas-based companies.